Search

As someone with a frugal mindset, I’m always on the lookout for freebies or out to save a buck for an expenditure. So, where does your moral code come into play when it comes to cutting costs?

Here are some examples:

My workplace supplies free coffee, tea, soft drinks, juice, and the occasional lunch. I’ve seen several of my co-workers (some who have been there for decades) taking drinks home at the end of the day so they don’t have to buy them. The same goes for office supplies.

When I go to the movies, I usually put a bottle of water in my purse, and sometimes a granola or protein bar in case I get hungry. I try not to drink soda, and I find that pretty much everything at the concession stands is overpriced and unhealthy. Perhaps I first learned this from my mother, who would bring popcorn in baggies when she took us to the movies when we were little. Yes, I will cave and buy the occasional popcorn, but that’s an exception and not the rule.

Remember, I haven’t been frugal all my life. There have been many things bought that I just had to have. Over the years, I’ve learned to curb back, with the occasional splurge. Now, the things I do on this list are just a way of life for me.

1. I don’t buy lottery tickets. Even when the Mega Millions jackpot hit $656 million, I refused. For those who buy only $2 worth of tickets every week, that’s still $104 per year. Take your pick: for me, that’s a month of gasoline, groceries, or money in my savings account. When I told this to one of my friends, she said, “You know someone is frugal when they don’t buy special occasion lottery tickets.” I’ll take that as a compliment.

2. I cut off the ends of a tube of hand lotion so I can get the last bits out of the other end when it’s too difficult to squeeze. This way, I get use out of the tube for 3 days if it’s small, up to a week if it’s larger.